HIV Heroes: Timothy Ray Brown

A Death Sentence

A Death Sentence

In 1983, scientists first discovered the virus that causes
AIDS. At the time, AIDS was a death sentence. There were no effective
treatments, and no known cure. Even today, treatments can prolong life, but
they don’t cure the disease.

The HIV virus has proved elusive because it attacks the very
same immune cells—called T cells—that normally protect the body against viruses.
The virus also mutates—or changes—and hides in cells, making it difficult for
drugs to destroy.

Life with AIDS

Life with AIDS

Today, people can live for many years with HIV/AIDS.
However, they must rely on a daily cocktail of medications called
antiretroviral drugs, which can cause severe side effects.

These drugs reduce the amount of HIV in the body, but they
can’t wipe it out completely. The virus remains, lurking in the cells. As soon
as someone with HIV stops taking the drugs, the HIV virus comes back.

Attempts At a Cure

Attempts At a Cure

In their efforts to cure AIDS, researchers have focused on
two possible therapies. One is a sterilizing cure that would remove all traces
of the virus from the body. The other is a functional cure.

Although it would not wipe out the virus, it would keep a
person healthy without having to take antiretroviral drugs. Researchers said it
would take many years before anyone could be cured of AIDS. Timothy Ray Brown
proved them wrong.

Timothy Ray Brown

Timothy Ray Brown

Timothy Ray Brown was born in Seattle, Washington. In 1995,
he was enrolled in school in Berlin, Germany when he was diagnosed with HIV.
Brown’s doctors prescribed a cocktail of antiretroviral drugs to keep his
disease under control.

For more than a decade, Brown lived well on the drugs. Then,
in 2007, Brown received another devastating diagnosis: he had acute myeloid
leukemia—cancer of the blood.

Two Diseases—One Remarkable Treatment

Two Diseases—One Remarkable Treatment

To combat the leukemia, doctors used chemotherapy to kill
off the damaged immune cells. Then, they performed two stem cell transplants to
build Brown’s immune system back up.

However, they didn’t use just any stem cell donor. The donor
they chose had a very rare mutation in a gene called CCR5, which makes people
resistant to the HIV virus. During the stem cell transplant, that genetic
variation transferred to Brown’s cells.

Brown Is Cured

Brown Is Cured

In February 2009, Brown’s doctors published their findings
in The New England Journal of Medicine.
Not only had the stem cell treatments rid Brown of his leukemia, but the
doctors couldn’t find any traces of the HIV virus remaining in his system.

Brown’s doctors called their results “remarkable.” Brown was
able to go off his antiretroviral medicines and live HIV-free. Known as the
“The Berlin Patient,” he was the first—and currently the only—person to be cured
of HIV.

Questions About the Cure

Questions About the Cure

Doctors spent a lot of time combing through billions of
Brown’s cells to make sure no traces of HIV remained. But in 2012, when other
groups of researchers performed highly sensitive tests on his cells, they found
traces of HIV genetic material.

Scientists said these findings meant Brown might still be
infected with HIV. Brown and his doctors insisted that he was still HIV-free.

Pushing for More AIDS Research

Pushing for More AIDS Research

Since Brown received his treatment, he has become an
advocate for HIV research. In 2012, he launched the Timothy Ray Brown
Foundation to help find a cure for HIV/AIDS—not only for himself, but for all
of the estimated 34 million people
living with the disease around the world.

Brown said it was the only foundation in the country solely
dedicated to curing HIV. “I dream of that day and believe I will see it,” he’s said.

Using Genes to Cure HIV

Using Genes to Cure HIV

Stem cell treatment isn’t practical for everyone with HIV.
It’s a risky and expensive operation. And, it’s very hard to find people with
the HIV-resistant gene mutation to donate stem cells.

Instead, scientists are trying to use gene therapy, modifying
a patient’s own immune cells, to make them fight off HIV. A few years ago, they
tried it with a 50-year-old patient. Although he wasn’t cured, the treatment lowered
the amount of HIV in his blood.

Learn About HIV and AIDS

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